Analysis of the Expression of Cell Division Cycle-Associated Genes and Its Prognostic Significance in Human Lung Carcinoma: A Review of the Literature Databases

Background. Lung cancer (LC) has become the top cause responsible for cancer-related deaths. Cell division cycle-associated (CDCA) genes exert an important role in the life process. Dysregulation in the process of cell division may lead to malignancy. Methods. Transcriptional data on CDCA gene family and patient survival data were examined for lung cancer (LC) patients from the GEPIA, Oncomine, cBioPortal, and Kaplan–Meier Plotter databases. Results. CDCA1/2/3/4/5/7/8 expression levels were higher in lung adenocarcinoma tissues, and the CDCA1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 expression levels were increased in squamous cell LC tissues compared with those in noncarcinoma lung tissues. The expression levels of CDCA1/2/3/4/5/8 showed correlation with tumor classification. The Kaplan–Meier Plotter database was employed to carry out survival analysis, indicating that increased CDCA1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 expression levels were obviously related to poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) (P<0.05). Only LC patients with increased CDCA3/4/5/8 expression were significantly related to lower post-progression survival (PPS) (P<0.05). The following processes were affected by CDCA genes’ alteration: R-HAS-2500257: resolution of sister chromatid cohesion; GO:0051301: cell division; CORUM: 1118: chromosomal passenger complex (CPC, including CDCA8, INCENP, AURKB, and BIRC5); CORUM: 127: NDC80 kinetochore complex; M129: the PID PLK1 pathway; and GO: 0007080: mitotic metaphase plate congression, all of which were remarkably modulated since the alterations affected CDCA genes. Conclusions. Upregulated CDCA genes’ expression levels in LC tissues probably play a crucial part in LC oncogenesis. The upregulated CDCA genes’ expression levels are used as the potential prognostic markers to improve patient survival and the LC prognostic accuracy. CDCA genes probably exert their functions in tumorigenesis through the PLK1 pathway

alteredheartbeatperceptionsensitivityassociatedwithbrainstructuralalterationsingeneralisedanxietydisorder

Background Palpitation is a common complaint in generalised anxiety disorder(GAD).Brain imaging studies have investigated the neural mechanism of heartbeat perception in healthy volunteers.This study explored the neuroanatomical differences of altered heartbeat perception in patients with GAD using structural MRI.Aims Based on the strong somatic-interoceptive symptoms in GAD,we explored the regional structural brain abnormalities involved in heartbeat perception in patients with GAD.Methods This study was applied to the a priori regions using neuroanatomical theories of heartbeat perception,including the insula,anterior cingulate cortex,supplementary motor area and prefrontal cortex.A total of 19 patients with GAD and 19 healthy control subjects were enrolled.We used the FMRIB Software Library voxel-based morphometry software for estimating the grey matter volume of these regions of interest and analysed the correlation between heartbeat perception sensitivity and the volume of abnormal grey matter.Results Patients with GAD showed a significantly decreased volume of grey matter in their left medial prefrontal cortex,right orbital frontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex.The grey matter volume of the left medial prefrontal cortex negatively correlated with heartbeat perception sensitivity in patients with GAD.Conclusions It should be the first study that shows heartbeat perception is associated with brain structure in GAD.Our findings suggest that the frontal region may play an important role in aberrant heartbeat perception processing in patients with GAD,and this may be an underlying mechanism resulting in the abnormal cardiovascular complaints in GAD.This is hypothesised as a ‘top-down’ deficiency,especially in the medial prefrontal cortex.This will provide the foundation for a more targeted region for neuromodulation intervention in the future

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel Selenium-Containing <i>Iso</i>combretastatins and Phenstatins as Antitumor Agents

Two series of structurally related organoselenium compounds designed by fusing the anticancer agent methyl­(phenyl)­selane into the tubulin polymerization inhibitors <i>iso</i>combretastatins or phenstatins were synthesized and evaluated for antiproliferative activity. Most of these selenium containing hybrids exhibited potent cytotoxicity against a panel of cancel cell lines, with IC₅₀ values in the submicromolar concentration range. Among them, <b>11a</b>, the 3-methylseleno derivative of <i>iso</i>combretastatin A-4 (<i>iso</i>CA-4) represented the most active compound with IC₅₀ values of 2–34 nM against 12 cancer cell lines, including two drug-resistant cell lines. Importantly, its phosphate salt, <b>11ab</b>, inhibited tumor growth in xenograft mice models with inhibitory rate of 72.9% without apparent toxicity, which was better than the reference compounds <i>iso</i>CA-4P (inhibitory rate 52.2%) and CA-4P (inhibitory rate 47.6%). Mechanistic studies revealed that <b>11a</b> is a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor, which could arrest cell cycle at G₂/M phase and induce apoptosis along with the decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential. In summary, <b>11a</b> could serve as a promising lead for the development of highly efficient anticancer agents

Role of Telemedicine in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND Telemedicine plays an important role in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), particularly during a pandemic such as COVID-19. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of telemedicine in managing IBD are unclear. OBJECTIVE This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare the impact of telemedicine with that of standard care on the management of IBD. METHODS We systematically searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases on April 22, 2020. Randomized controlled trials comparing telemedicine with standard care in patients with IBD were included, while conference abstracts, letters, reviews, laboratory studies, and case reports were excluded. The IBD-specific quality of life (QoL), disease activity, and remission rate in patients with IBD were assessed as primary outcomes, and the number of in-person clinic visits per patient, patient satisfaction, psychological outcome, and medication adherence were assessed as secondary outcomes. Review Manage 5.3 and Stata 15.1 were used for data analysis. RESULTS A total of 17 randomized controlled trials (2571 participants) were included in this meta-analysis. The telemedicine group had higher IBD-specific QoL than the standard care group (standard mean difference 0.18, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.34; P.03). The number of clinic visits per patient in the telemedicine group was significantly lower than that in the standard care group (standard mean difference -0.71, 95% CI -1.07 to -0.36; P<.001). Subgroup analysis showed that adolescents in the telemedicine group had significantly higher IBD-specific QoL than those in the standard care group (standard mean difference 0.42, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.69; I2=0; P.002), but there was no significant difference between adults in the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in disease activity, remission rate, patient satisfaction, depression, self-efficacy, generic QoL, and medication adherence outcomes between the telemedicine and standard care groups. CONCLUSIONS Telemedicine intervention showed a promising role in improving IBD-specific QoL among adolescents and decreased the number of clinic visits among patients with IBD. Further research is warranted to identify the group of patients with IBD who would most benefit from telemedicine